On the morning of February 12, 2023, 31-year-old Yakebau Ya Ya Cortez Head was shot five times in the back while standing on the front doorstep of his girlfriend’s home in Lexington, Mississippi. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members say witnesses saw a vehicle leave immediately after the shooting and that a man getting into the car was recognized by relatives; family members also allege both occupants were known to Yakebau.

The Lexington Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. By late August 2023, more than six months after the slaying, no arrests had been announced and no official suspects had been publicly named. The victim’s mother, Tracie Mayfield, criticized the local police for poor communication and said investigators suggested Yakebau had a role in his own death, a claim the family disputes and says affected an insurance payout.

The case remains unsolved and the family continues to press for answers. If anyone knew Yakebau, was in the neighborhood that morning, or has information about the vehicle or occupants seen leaving the scene, please come forward.